Xbox 720 To Feature Blu-Ray Support But Reject Used Games? More Rumors On The Next-Gen Xbox

The internet rumor mill is cranking out "reliable sources" reporting on the next-generation of Xbox, a device that may or may not actually exist. Earlier today, we reported on rumors that the "Xbox 720" (a totally speculative name) will be out in Fall 2013. Since then, we've heard even more juicy rumors about the Xbox 360-2.

According to unnamed sources gathered by game blog Kotaku, the next-gen Xbox will support Blu-Ray discs as well as DVDs, will be up to eight times as powerful as the current Xbox 360, will feature smaller controllers, and will launch with a new version of the Kinect.

That's the good news. The bad news: The console will supposedly not allow gamers to play used games. At all.

Further details are sparse at this time. Should a no-used-games lock be put in place, we're not sure how it would work. And we don't, honestly, even know for sure that the device is being developed. But if I had to put money on the likelihood of these rumors being true, I'd say it's a pretty solid bet. There's nothing here that strikes me as totally unlikely, anyway.

While rumors of the device date back many months, the closest we've come to an official mention of the cojsole was from the screen capture you see below, cheeky product-placement from sci-fi movie Real Steel. It's not official or anything, but interesting anyway.

While many expected a CES 2012 announcment of the device, it didn't happen. The current "conventional wisdom" points to Microsoft officially announcing the device at E3 2012, a possibility that seems much more likely to me.

I've put a call in to Microsoft for a response, and while I hope they'll detail their precise plans for the next gen console, including price-point and release date, I don't honestly expect more than a "no comment." I'll update this post when/if I hear from them.

Update: Here's the official response from Microsoft's representative:

“As an innovator we’re always thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology like we did with Kinect. We believe the key to extending the lifespan of a console is not just about the console hardware, but about the games and entertainment experiences being delivered to consumers. Beyond that we don’t comment on rumors or speculation.”